Champagne River Cruise

Champagne River Cruise

Explore the undulating plains of a region famous for its bubbly apéritif and majestic cathedrals and châteaux, starting with an evening cruise through Paris, taking in the stunning floodlit Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame. Meander your way along the River Marne through the mesmerising Champagne vineyards with a private tour of a renowned Champagne house, including, of course, a sample, finishing with a visit to Reims cathedral, famous for the crowning of French kings.

This cruise is fully inclusive of six nights accommodation, gourmet meals, fine wines and open bar, daily excursions, local transfers and full use of all onboard amenities.

This is a sample itinerary for Panache and is subject to change as is the barge hotel, you may be accommodated on either the Savoir Faire or La Nouvelle Etoile dependent on demand.

The starting day for this holiday is Sunday.

Itinerary & Hotels

1

Paris day 1

Summary

After meeting at the designated meeting point in Paris, we transfer to the barge hotel, Panache, moored at Port d’Arsenal in the heart of the city. There’s a Champagne welcome aboard and as evening arrives, we set sail through Paris for a floodlit, romantic cruise past famous landmarks and under beautiful stone bridges. Dinner on board.

Panache is a spacious, 128 feet long hotel barge featuring a stunning sun deck, a social dining and bar area with a piano and 6 double or twin junior suites, accommodating 12 guests. There are six crew, including an on-board chef, to ensure a comfortable and relaxing stay aboard.

There are panoramic windows in the saloon bar area and the barge has been finished in a traditional yacht style with brass and mahogany fittings. The large sun deck features a spa pool and an alternate dining area. There are twelve bicycles for guests' use, to explore the scenic towpaths.

All cabins are en suite and have twin handbasins and oversized showers.

Facilities

Board

The Master Chef aboard Panache ensures to produce reginal specialities such as -

Braised veal in red wine

Roasted duck a l'Alsacienne

Magret de Canard aux Mirabelles

Le Baeckeoffe d'Alsace

You can expect to find wines such as Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Pouilly Fume, Reisling Grand Cru and Chablis Premier Cru on the wine list.

The cheeseboard will also feature regional greats such as Tomme Fermier d'Alsace, Munster-géromé, Tomme de Yenne, Mattons, Roussot and Caprice des Dieux.

2

Paris to Meaux day 2

Summary

We leave Paris this morning, meandering our way along the River Marne, taking in our first views of the stunning countryside, to the town of Meaux. We take an afternoon tour of the Musée de la Grande Guerre, a fascinating museum depicting the lives of the soldiers and civilians during World War One. Dinner on board.

3

Meaux to La Ferté-sous-Jouarre day 3

Summary

Today, we visit the stunning baroque Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte with its pioneering architecture which influenced the great Versailles’ design. Wander the exquisite apartments with their period furniture and elaborate décor and explore the beautiful manicured gardens, absorbing the history of this 17th century building. We take lunch on board and continue our cruising along the Marne to La Ferté-sous-Jouarre. Dinner on board

4

La Ferté-sous-Jouarre to Château-Thierry day 4

Summary

Now that we are firmly in the Champagne region, we continue our leisurely cruise on the Marne to Château-Thierry, a town overlooking the river and surrounded by some of the region’s finest vineyards. After lunch we take a drive to Belleau Wood which is the site of the first major battle fought by the American GIs in World War One. We also take this chance to visit a nearby cemetery dedicated to the fallen US Marine Corps. Dinner on board.

5

Château-Thierry to Cumières day 5

Summary

We venture further into the vine-clad hills today, passing small wine-growing communities and picturesque villages on the winding River Marne. We arrive in Cumières in time to explore the village by foot or bicycle before lunch. This afternoon we visit one of the region’s renowned Champagne houses, Domaine Ployez-Jacquemart, for a private tour and, of course, a tasting. Dinner on board.

6

Cumières to Condé-sur-Marne day 6

Summary

Today, we visit the pretty village of Hautvilliers, otherwise known as the `cradle of Champagne`, which is famed for being the place where the monk, Dom Perignon, first discovered the `methode champenoise`. We then pick up our cruise again and journey along the Canal Lateral à la Marne to our final destination in Condé-sur-Marne. From here, we take a trip to the magnificent 800-year-old Reims cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece where many Kings of France were crowned, most notably Charles VII who took the throne with the assistance of Joan of Arc. Captain’s Farewell Dinner on board.

7

Condé-sur-Marne day 7

Summary

After breakfast, disembark Panache and transfer to the designated drop off point in Paris.

Route & Location

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Pricing & Enquiry

Pricing

Prices vary according to travel method. Select your preferred option to get an updated price. For full pricing details, click here.

From£3390per person

Own travel

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For bookings made within 12 weeks of departure our prices cannot be guaranteed. In this instance please ask for a quotation.

Booking Enquiry

Enquire by phone

Phone the Belle France team during 9am - 5pm (GMT) or leave a message. International calls will be charged at your standard rate.